Narcissus Avalon

Daffodil or Narcissus Avalon produces a flower with citrus tones, as fresh as spring. Its pretty cylindrical trumpet is bright yellow when it blooms then turns milky white at full bloom, atop a corolla of round, wide, translucent, soft and bright lemon-yellow petals speckled with white at the base. It usually blooms at the end of April, on a strong stem. Narcissus bulbs planted in autumn are the most robust. They tolerate full sun as well as partial shade, prefer well-drained soil but also thrive in heavy soil.

'Avalon' Narcissus, introduced in Ireland in 1977, belongs to the lily family (Amaryllidaceae). The Narcissus genus includes around 50 species mainly found in the western Mediterranean, but also in Africa and Asia. 'Avalon' narcissus, like most large-crowned daffodils, is the result of cross-breeding between N.poeticus and N (x) pseudonarcissus, or even N.incomparabilis. It is an excellent variety derived from Camelot and Daydream, proven plants. The plant produces a very sturdy stem that reaches 40 to 55 cm (16 to 22in) high when in bloom. It flowers in mid-season, in April, with a large yellow-green floral bud that opens into magnificent flowers with six light lemon-yellow, very smooth petal-like tepals. The stamens are in a cup-shaped crown or paracorolla, initially lemon yellow but becoming completely white at full bloom. The foliage is deciduous, disappearing in summer.

There are so many narcissus varieties that you can enjoy them for three months in spring without getting bored for a single moment. They will all easily naturalise, endlessly display yellow and white, and often emit sweet fragrances. These are all reasons to grow them in large clumps on the lawn or at the edge of a bed (at least 20 bulbs) for a mass effect. Combine the 'Avalon' narcissus, in wild or romantic beds, with scilla and hyacinths, double tulips, forget-me-nots, daisies, chamomiles, or liverworts. A bunch of 'Avalon' narcissus in a vase creates a sensational effect. This narcissus is perfect in pots.

For bouquets: we advise against mixing narcissus with other flowers such as tulips, as the stems contain a substance that quickly wilts other flowers. This negative effect can be mitigated by dipping the ends of narcissus stems in hot water for 1 to 2 minutes.